Mechanical massage apparatus



May 1, 192 1,668,224

C. A. VADEN MECHANICAL MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed July 12. 1926 INVEN'T'QE 7 QT'T'O Y Patented May 1, 1928.

1 i CLAUDE AQvADEN, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

MECHANICAL MAssAGn 'APrARhTus,

Application filed. July 12,

'This invention relates broadlyto kinesitherapeutic apparatus, and more specificah ly to a vibratory muscle massaging and exercising device.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simpleand improved form of mechanical apparatus of oscillatory belt 'type whereby massage of the muscles of the body and/or limbs may be conveniently effected.

A further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned embodying means whereby the belt attachment may be readily adjusted to various levels or elevations, as

J desired.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is herein had to the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is tion;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section on line 3-3, Fig. 2; and

Figure 4 is a section on line 44, Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawings, 1 indicates a suitable base which has stationarily mounted thereon adjacent to an end thereof an upright standard 2. Fixed on said standard adjacent to its upper and lower ends, respectively, ,are'brackets 3 and 4 which form bearings for a vertical shaft 5. Said shaft has rigidly mounted thereon adjacent to its lower end a crank-arm 6 towhich is pivotally connected an end of a connecting rod 7 which connects at its opposite end with an eccentric 8 carried by a drive shaft 9 journaled in bearings 10 upon the base 1. The coupling intermediate the crank arm 6 and rod 7 consists of a loop member 6 to which the crank arm is pivotably connected by means of adjustable pivot pins 6* and 6". The loop member 6*" has a rearwardly extending part 6 to which the forward end of the rod 7 is connected. The shaft 9 suitably driven, as by an electric. motor 11 which, as herein shown, is driven by a belt- 12 connecting pulleys 13 and 14 fixed on the rotor and drive shafts, respectively.

Mounted for vertical adjustment on the shaft 5 is a rocker member 15 through which oscillatory movements imparted to said shaft through the connecting rod 7 are communicated to a massaging belt '16, indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, which has its ends attached to said; member 15. One or more pairs of horns, as 17 and 18, located a top plan view ofthe inven- 1926. Serial no. 121,816,v

onthe opposite end portions of the rocker member may beprovided for receiving thereon loop-like ends 16 of the detachable belt 16'.

in 19 harried e "rocker member 15'is designedto be threaded into binding seated relation to the shaft 5 for securing said member in adjusted position on and in rigid relation to said shaft. In practice, the massaging belt 16 havlng been adjusted or applied to'embrace the portion of the body or limbs of the user which is to be acted upon, the motor 11 is started for imparting forward and reverse longisultant vibration which would otherwise be incident to the driving of the mechanism in the manner described, the connecting rod 7, herein shown as of flat bar form, has a portion 'thereof suitably reduced in thickness to render it readily flexible, or resilient, under the longitudinal strains imposed thereon in the reciprocating movements thereof.

The extent of the rotary oscillating movements imparted to the shaft may, obviously, be regulated by adjustment of the position of the connection made between the connecting rod 7 and the crank arm 6.

lVhat is claimed isv 1, In a massageapparatus, a base, a vertically disposed standard on said base, a pair of forwardly extending horizontal brackets secured one to each end of the standard and having vertical openings 'therethrough, a vertically disposed rotary shaft having its ends journaled in said openlngs, said shaft. being disposed in spaced parallel relation to the standard, a vertically adjustable transverse belt holding member on said shaft between the brackets, a pair of spaced belt engaging fingers rcarried by the belt holding member, a crank so i crank arm, and a pitrnan rod having one end secured to the driving means and'lts o'pposlte end connected to the rearwardly extending part of the loop' 'member whereby oscillatory movement is imparted to the shaft and massage means.

In an apparatus of the character described, a base, a verticallydis'posedstandardgfixcd on said base, forwardly extending brackets carried by said standard adjacent to its" upper and lower ends, 'a'shaft having its ends journaled in said brackets and disposed inparallel relation to said standard, a member transversely mounted and vertically adjustable on said shaft, said member havend of said pitman to said crank arm, said connecting nieans'being adjustable relative to said shaft to regulateth e extent of osc1llatory movement imparted to the latter through said crank arm;

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CLAUDE A. VADEN; 

